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` l "A, POQRTER `Irrmrovmentl inCar Couplings.

NG; 115,517, 6M I Patented May 3O,871.

AlllvrrEn STATES ALBERT PORTER, QE ravine,` runners.

" IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,517, dated May 30,1871.

I, ALBERT PORTER, of Irving, in the county of Montgomery and StatelofIllinois, have invented a certain `Gar-Coupling, of which the followingis a specication:

Nature and Object ofthe Intention. My invention relates to a self-engaging' coupling for `railroad cars. It has a turnpiece, whichreceives a partial rotation by the entering-link, and the pin-upon whichpasses up through the"`link^and raises a gravitatin gcatch that descendswhen the pin has passed beneath it and engages the end of the pin.

` The object fis to4 provide an automatic coup- .ling, which willcombine the qualities of cheapness, simplicity, efficiency, anddurability in a higher degree than those now in use.

Desmzptton of the priming.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section ready for the entranceof thelink. Fig. 2is

a similar section, showing the link engaged. Fig. 3 is a transversesection at the line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section at theline y y, Fig. "2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe pin or turn-piece.

General Description.

A is the draw-head, and B the link. The link', when coupled, is held bya pin, C, which forms part of a turn-piece, whose journals or pivots Erest in suitable recesses of the lower portion of the draw-head. D is arecess,

which contains the pin when the link is uncoupled. F is an extension ofthe turnpiece, projecting at about right angles with the pin,

and upon which the entering-link acts to raise the pin, the extension Fbeing carried backward and downward into a recess, G, in the drawhead. His a gravitatingcatch, having shoul ders hh and a cap, I, above thedraw-head. The shoulders h h have vertical movement in side extensions jof the vertical rectangular socket J of the catch H. The cap I` hasgreater diameter than the socket J and sustains the? catch when the:link is uncoupled; but when the front side of the pin C, so as toprevent possibility of accident by the dropping out of the catch whenthe cars are coupled. The catch is connected to the cap by an eyebolt,K, which connects with a rod, L, that may be connected to a lever, M,upon the car-roof N, or which may extend merely to the platform. The rodL allows the Vcatch Jtmpbe drawn up, to uncouple, by a person standingon the `platform or car top. The turn-piece (l E F may be of cast-steelor malleable iron, or forged iron, but should be made in one piece. Atthe rear of the lower end of the catch His a recess, a, to receive theend of the pin (lwhen raised.

The operation of the coupling is as follows: The entering-linkencounters the extension or toe-piece F, and, driving it backward anddownward into the recess Gr, raises the pin C,

whose end, in moving backward, raises the catch IzI and passes into therecessl a. 'lo

uncouple, the catch H is drawn upward and releases the pin, which isdrawn outward by the link, and falls into the recess D. The turn-piece CE F admits of removal from the ,recess of the-drawl-head when tll carsare uncoupled, but cannot be raised when they are coupled, as the pin isheld down in the recess a, and by unscrewing the bolt K the catch willdrop out when the cars are un-4 coupled, but when coupled the catch iskept in by the shoulder c.

I am aware that couplings have before been made with a turning ortumbling hook, adapted to catch the link automatically and be itselfcaught vand held by a latch or catch; this, therefore, I do not claim.But mycoupling is superior to others in that the tumbling-hooks are madeto turn upon trunnions made in one piece therewith, instead of on aseparate pin or pivot. Springs are entirely dispensed with, and theentire apparatus is made up of a small number of pieces, which may bereadily taken apart, if necessary, but have no liability to become'accidentally de-` tached. A

Claim.. and operated in the manner and for the pur` pose set forth. lclaim as my iuventi0n In testimony of which invention I have Theturn-piece, consisting of the holdinghereunto Se@ my handpin C providedwith a projection, c, trunn- ALBERT PORTER ions E E, and rear extensionF, made in one-` piece, in combination with the shouldered Witnesses: vgraVitating-eatch H h h', cap I, and recessed SAML. KNIGHT, draw-head AD G a, all constructed, arranged, RICHARD M. SPURGEON.

